Did you catch the recent game between the Chicago Sky and the New York Liberty? If you did, you probably witnessed a heated moment that left everyone talking. Angel Reese, a forward for the Liberty, was ejected from the game for a double tech foul.
One person who had a lot to say about the incident was none other than Lonzo Ball, the talented player for the Chicago Bulls. Ball, who is known for his outspoken nature, didn’t hold back about Reese’s ejection. In typical Ball fashion, he had some strong opinions on the matter.
Ball didn’t mince words when talking the incident. He expressed his disappointment in the referee, stating that the ejection decision was weak.
In the waning minutes with the Liberty firmly in control, Sky rookie Angel Reese drew two quick whistles for her first ejection from a WNBA game. The ejection took place with New York leading 82-71 and 2:31 remaining. Reese initially drew a whistle for a personal foul while fighting for a rebound. Two subsequent technical whistles quickly followed, and Reese had been ejected from the game.
It happened so fast that the NBATV broadcast initially announced that New York’s Betnijah Laney-Hamilton had been ejected. But it was, in fact, Reese who got tossed.
Replay shows the interaction that prompted the technicals that the live broadcast missed. Referee Charles Watson whistled Reese for the personal foul. Reese briefly protested, then turned her back to Watson with a dismissive hand wave. Watson responded with two technical whistles and an overhead toss gesture signaling that Reese was no longer welcome to play basketball.
Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon told reporters after the game that officials didn’t explain the ejection to her.
“I tried to get an explanation. I did not,” Weatherspoon said. “I don’t know to this moment what has happened.”
Lead official Maj Forsberg told reporters that the first technical issued to Reese was for “disrespectfully addressing” Watson. The second was because of the Reese’s hand wave.
Reese didn’t speak with reporters after the game. But her ejection caught the attention of a fellow Chicago basketball player. Bulls guard Lonzo Ball thought the ejection was “weak” and offered on social media to pay for any subsequent fines.Reese appreciated the gesture.
Sky leading scorer Marina Mabrey described the moment as a learning experience for Reese, via ESPN:
“She got two techs, she said something to the ref,” Mabrey said. “Whatever he felt like was the correct call is what he made. It’s more about composure for us in our young years in the WNBA. You’ve got to get to know refs and how they respond to things.”
As the basketball season continues, we can only imagine what other controversies and heated moments will arise. But one thing is certain, with players like Lonzo Ball in the mix, it’s bound to be an exciting ride.
Flip to the next page for the videos and reactions. Lonzo says he’ll pay her fine….
